New truck blues

Hey folks ... long time reader first time poster. Pulled out of the dealership 3.5 wks ago with 9 mi. on a 23 access SR 4x4 4cyl. after waiting the new-normal 3 months and couldn't have been happier. Next day I noticed a vibration in the steering wheel when I hit 70mph or just below on the highway. Figured it was just settling in. It continued, however. Called the shop that Saturday, at around 300 miles, to check on it and to schedule the tonneau install (after it not being ordered in the waiting period). Explained the situation and was given an appt for earlier this week (3.5 wks after purchase). Very long story short with a lot of bummer-stops in between, the dealership is charging me a portion of the fix for two front bent rims following round out tests and they're saying there's no evidence of bad workmanship (or, by the way, evidence of other driver-caused impact that I assume would accompany something causing two bent rims). This has me really confused, given the timing of when the issue started and lack of bad experiences with potholes or anything of the sort on my end. I'm less concerned about the cost to repair than I am that there might be an issue with the truck - particularly because I suspect there is an alignment issue that I'm having trouble getting traction on with them and after the cover was installed I swear the truck drove differently and the beautiful engine hum sounded different. I get the acoustics of the bed change but under the hood? I asked about it and was told the cover is heavy enough to drop the bed and raise the frontend, enough to change the acoustics. That sounded odd to me. Needless to say this is not the buying or overal experience I anticipate let alone right out of the gates. I wish I did hit a pothole or something so there'd be clear cause and effect and I could just chalk it up to bad luck. But that's not the case and, given some other buggy things with it (messed up seat, kinky electronics, subpar lower heat option), I'm fearing not a lemon per se but a compromised vehicle. Corporate is involved has been responsive so far and I just thought I'd jump on here to see if anyone had any perspective or insights to share. Thank you.

 

Interesting two of the wheels were bent and out of round on a brand new truck.

not sure about the tonneau changing the acoustics, there is no way it’s heavy enough to affect the rear suspension and cause a front rake I would call the dealer on their bullshit.

 

Thanks for the rapid reply. I'm positive I didn't interact with a pothole or curb or anything in a way that would have even caused me to worry - and trust me, I'd worry as new vehicle owners tend to do - but I'm curious: does it take significant impact to bend two front rims? I've read how steel wheels are softer than alloy and even uneven roads can cause a problem, but I'm curious what it takes to cause this. Regardless, the timing of the problem - essentially immediately upon driving it - has me spooked.

 

What are "lot of bummer-stops in between" ? You say "lack of bad experiences with potholes or anything of the sort on my end". Rims don't get bent on their own. There is no such thing as soft wheels and steel wheels are definitely no "soft". You also say "I'm having trouble getting traction". What does that mean? Adding a tonneau cover will not cause "traction" problems or engine changes or perceived changes such as "sound".

 

I think he meant traction with the dealer in acknowledging the issue…

 

Welcome from Denver!

Don't blow your money on those crappy wheels. Get something that is worth spending your $$$ on imo

 

Steering wheel Vibrations at that speed points to a tire balance issue. Have them rebalance it.

 

Something strong enough to bend a steel wheel seems like it would likely have gouged or cracked an alloy wheel. Maybe was an issue in place that then got worse during actual driving? TBH it'd be worth getting different wheels anyways that are lighter and drive better, but would be good to know the cause so you aren't risking new wheels getting damaged (in other words, if the wheels are the cause or a symptom of something else)

 

To add to this, something hitting the tire/wheel hard enough to bend a steel wheel would most almost assuredly have destroyed the tire; if the tires are A) OEM and B) look undamaged, then I also call BS on bent rims.

 

Take it to another dealer.

 

Impact hard enough to bend the rims i think the tires would have said "screw it I'm done"

 

These trucks are out of alignment from the factory. If your dealership does not have an alignment rack (like mine didn't) you will not know this.

Ask other Toyota dealers around you if they have an alignment rack. Get inspected at minimum. I also agree the tire/wheel balance is likely* your culprit at 70mph.

 

Thanks everyone very much for the insight.

Regarding some points made, the round out test confirming the bent rims followed balancing tests which confirmed they were balanced.

No damage to tires reported by servicing or detected by me.

I dont know what they do for alignment but I am awaiting them explaining why nothing beyond a road test was done for that.

And for those keeping tabs haha what I was referring to initially by bummer stops in between were mostly on the customer service end and the level of advocacy I've had to show as a result. For example, when the service mgr was explaining why they don't think the rims are due to workmanship, he pointed out they're seeing it at 1300 miles, and when I pointed out I called to set up an appt at 300 miles, four days after getting it (figuring it was just working itself out the kinks), I was asked to provide evidence - such as my call history (which I did) - to show the timeline with this. Kind of crazy.

 

Sorry OP, this sucks. Like others have said, I'm not sure how wheels get out of round without major trauma that would likely damage tires, control arms, etc.

Note to self: communicate with dealer via email, not phone.

 

I'd go to another dealer and start from scratch. I highly doubt you bent those rims w/o damaging the tire too.

 

Heyo latest update: about an hour ago I struck a deer headon in the loaner from the dealership. Im good. Deer definitely didnt make it. What a ride so far.

 

Sounds like it fell off the transport at some point, after all it came a long way. Stranger things have happened you know.

 

I had vibration and pulling issues on my new 23 taco (June 23). Called same day, brought it back... Also had tonneau cover leak.
2 front wheels out of balance, needed alignment. Dealer ended up replacing the factory hard cover because they could not get it to seat properly.

 

Duuuuuude! You shoulda called me to come pick up the deer. Not the first time I would’ve gotten one on the way to your house, lol.

 

Gonna start charging you at this rate